Modular system for dispensing additional ingredients

ABSTRACT

A dispensing system may be provided. The dispensing system may comprise a control architecture internal to the dispensing system. The dispensing system may further comprise an internal portion internal to the dispensing system. The internal portion may be configured to provide an internal ingredient under the control of the control architecture. An external portion may be external to the dispensing system. The external portion may be configured to provide an external ingredient to the dispensing system. The external portion may be under the control of the control architecture.

This application is being filed on 28 Jul. 2016, as a PCT Internationalpatent application and claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/198,498, filed Jul. 29, 2016, the entiredisclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

A beverage dispenser is a device that dispenses carbonated soft drinkscalled fountain drinks. They may be found in restaurants, concessionstands, and other locations such as convenience stores. A beveragedispenser combines flavored syrup or syrup concentrate and carbondioxide with chilled water to make soft drinks. The syrup may be pumpedfrom a special container called a bag-in-box (BIB).

SUMMARY

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that may be further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to be used to limit the scopeof the claimed subject matter.

A dispensing system may be provided. The dispensing system may comprisea control architecture internal to the dispensing system. The dispensingsystem may further comprise an internal portion internal to thedispensing system. The internal portion may be configured to provide aninternal ingredient under the control of the control architecture. Anexternal portion may be external to the dispensing system. The externalportion may be configured to provide an external ingredient to thedispensing system. The external portion may be under the control of thecontrol architecture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute apart of this disclosure, illustrate various embodiments of the presentdisclosure. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an operating environment including a dispensing system;

FIG. 2 shows a control architecture used to control the dispensingsystem;

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of the control architecture of FIG. 2 inmore detail;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a modular add-on for the controlarchitecture of FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

FIG. 5A, FIG. 5B, FIG. 5C, and FIG. 5D show connector layouts for aprinted circuit assembly (PCA) for a modular add-on component;

FIG. 5E shows the PCA layout for the modular add-on component;

FIG. 6A, FIG. 6B, FIG. 6C, FIG. 6D, FIG. 6E, and FIG. 6F show a primarytray;

FIG. 7 shows a primary tray with a secondary tray stacked upon theprimary tray;

FIG. 8A shows a control gear pump (CGP) module clipped to the side ofthe primary tray; and

FIG. 8B shows a system diagram of the GCP module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings.Wherever possible, the same reference numbers are used in the drawingsand the following description to refer to the same or similar elements.While embodiments of the disclosure may be described, modifications,adaptations, and other implementations are possible. For example,substitutions, additions, or modifications may be made to the elementsillustrated in the drawings, and the methods described herein may bemodified by substituting, reordering, or adding stages to the disclosedmethods. Accordingly, the following detailed description does not limitthe disclosure. Instead, the proper scope of the disclosure is definedby the appended claims.

The term “beverage,” as used herein, includes, but is not limited to,pulp and pulp-free citrus and non-citrus fruit juices, fruit drink,vegetable juice, vegetable drink, milk, soy milk, protein drink,soy-enhanced drink, tea, water, isotonic drink, vitamin-enhanced water,soft drink, flavored water, energy drink, coffee, smoothies, yogurtdrinks, hot chocolate and combinations thereof. The beverage may also becarbonated or non-carbonated. The beverage may comprise beveragecomponents (e.g., beverage bases, colorants, flavorants, and additives).

The term “beverage base” refers to parts of the beverage or the beverageitself prior to additional colorants, additional flavorants, and/oradditional additives. According to certain embodiments of the presentinventions, beverage bases may include, but are not limited to syrups,concentrates, and the like that may be mixed with a diluent such asstill or carbonated water or other diluent to form a beverage. Thebeverage bases may have reconstitution ratios of about 3:1 to about 6:1or higher. According to certain embodiments, beverage bases may comprisea mixture of beverage base components.

The term “beverage base component” refers to components which may beincluded in beverage bases. According to certain embodiments of thepresent inventions, the beverage base component may comprise parts ofbeverages which may be considered food items by themselves. According tocertain embodiments of the present inventions, the beverage basecomponents may be micro-ingredients such as an acid portion of abeverage base, an acid-degradable and/or non-acid portion of a beveragebase, natural and artificial flavors, flavor additives, natural andartificial colors, nutritive or non-nutritive natural or artificialsweeteners, additives for controlling tartness (e.g., citric acid orpotassium citrate), functional additives such as vitamins, minerals, orherbal extracts, nutraceuticals, or medicaments. The micro-ingredientsmay have reconstitution ratios from about 10:1, 20:1, 30:1, or higherwith many having reconstitution ratios of 50:1 to 300:1. The viscositiesof the micro-ingredients may range from about 1 to about 100 centipoise.

Thus, for the purposes of requesting, selecting, or dispensing abeverage base, a beverage base formed from separately stored beveragebase components may be equivalent to a separately stored beverage base.For the purposes of requesting, selecting or dispensing a beverage, abeverage formed from separately stored beverage components may beequivalent to a separately stored beverage.

By “separately stored” it is meant that the components of the presentinventions are kept separate until combined. For instance, thecomponents may be separately stored individually in a container orpackage or instead may be all stored in one container or package whereineach component is individually packaged (e.g., plastic bags) so thatthey do not blend while in the container or package. In someembodiments, the container or package, itself, may be individual,adjacent to, or attached to another container or package.

The product ingredients may include beverage bases or beverage basecomponents (e.g., concentrated syrups) as well as flavors (i.e.,flavoring agents, flavor concentrates, or flavor syrups), which may beseparately stored or otherwise contained in individual removablecontainers. In accordance with one or more embodiments, each of thebeverage bases or beverage base components and each of the flavors maybe separately stored or otherwise contained in individual removablecontainers, cartridges, packages or the like which may generally bereferred to simply as a “package” or “ingredients package” with one ormore applicable reference numbers.

FIG. 1 shows an operating environment 100 including a dispensing system102. As shown in FIG. 1, operating environment 100 may comprise anexternal portion 104 and an internal portion. The internal portion maycomprise a bag-in-a-box (BIB) portion 106, a water portion 108, amacro-ingredient portion 110, a micro-ingredient portion 112, and anozzle portion 114. Flexible tubing may connect the elements ofoperating environment 100 in order to move ingredients and diluent (e.g.water) from element to element in operating environment 100. Externalportion 104, bag-in-a-box (BIB) portion 106, macro-ingredient portion110, and micro-ingredient portion 112 may comprise ingredient sources.Water portion 108 may comprise a diluent source. Some elements (e.g.ingredients and dilute) of, BIB portion 106, water portion 108, andmacro-ingredient portion 110 may be located inside of or outside ofdispensing system 102.

External portion 104 may comprise a tray 116, an external ingredient118, an external ingredient pump 120, and an external ingredient valve122. In some embodiments, external ingredient pump 120 may be a positivedisplacement pump for metering a predetermined volume of a fluid foreach cycle of the pump. The positive displacement pump may be acontrolled gear pump, a vibratory piston pump, a screw pump, aperistaltic pump, or other such pumps suitable for metering apredetermined volume of fluid for each cycle of the pump. In suchembodiments where external ingredient pump 120 is a positivedisplacement pump, external ingredient valve 122 may be omitted. In someembodiments, external ingredient valve 122 may be located withindispensing system 102 proximate to the nozzle. External ingredient valve122 may be any appropriate valve for metering a desired flow rate ofingredient from the nozzle, such as a volumetric valve, a variableorifice valve, a shutoff valve in cooperation with a flow restrictor orflow control module, or the like.

Tray 116 may be temperature controlled or external ingredient 118 may betemperature controlled prior to being dispensed from nozzle assembly172. For example, tray 116 may be located within a cold vault or othertemperature controlled environment for maintaining the temperature ofexternal ingredient 118. In such embodiments, the supply line from thetray to nozzle assembly 172 may be insulated to maintain the temperatureof the ingredient as it travels to nozzle assembly 172. In someembodiments, the insulate tubing may include a recirculation loop fromthe temperature controlled environment to nozzle assembly 172. Asanother example, a heat exchanger (not shown) may be arranged betweentray 116 and nozzle assembly 172 to moderate the temperature of suppliedexternal ingredient 118. For example, external ingredient 118 may bepumped through a cold plate, a cold water bath, or other such heatexchanger to cool the external ingredient prior to nozzle assembly 172.External ingredient 118 may comprise a macro-ingredient with areconstitution ratio of about 3:1 to about 6:1 or higher, but generallyless than about 10:1 and may include insoluble particulates. Forexample, external ingredient 118 may comprise, but is not limited to, asweetener comprising, for example, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), ashelf stable juice concentrate, such as apple juice concentrate, a teaconcentrate, a shelf stable dairy concentrate, an enhanced waterconcentrate, and the like, for example. In embodiments where externalingredient 118 is temperature controlled from tray 116 to nozzleassembly 172, additional aseptic or non-preserved juice, tea, or dairyconcentrates may be used. Other sweeteners or sweetener blends may beused. External ingredient 118 may comprise a micro-ingredient with areconstitution ratio of about 10:1 or higher, but generally 20:1 orhigher, including 50:1, 75:1, 150:1, 300:1 or higher. For example,external ingredient 118 may comprise a non-nutritive sweetener, such asaspartame, with a reconstitution ratio of about 50:1 or higher. Whereexternal ingredient 118 is a micro-ingredient, more than one externalingredient pump 120 may supply the external ingredient to nozzleassembly 172. FIG. 1 shows one external portion 104; however, one ormore external portions may be used in dispensing system 102.

External ingredient pump 120 may comprise, but is not limited to, acontrolled gear pump (CGP) or other suitable positive displacement pump.External ingredient valve 122 may comprise, but is not limited to,either a volumetric valve or an on/off solenoid valve. If externalingredient pump 120 is a controlled gear pump or other positivedisplacement pump, then external ingredient valve 122 may be a solenoidvalve or may not be present. If external ingredient valve 122 is avolumetric valve, then a non-volumetric pump may be used. An example ofa non-volumetric pump is a CO₂ powered on-demand pump. Examples of avolumetric valve are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,926, BeverageDispenser Value and Method, filed May 12, 1993, the entirety of which ishereby incorporated by reference. BIB portion 106 may comprise a BIBingredient 124, a BIB connector 126, a BIB vacuum regulator 128, a BIBair vent 130, a BIB pump 132, and a BIB valve 134. BIB pump 132 maycomprise, but is not limited to, a controlled gear pump. BIB valve 134may comprise, but is not limited to, either a volumetric valve or anon/off solenoid valve. However, a controlled gear pump and a volumetricvalve may not be used together in the same system. If BIB pump 132comprises a controlled gear pump, then BIB value 134 may be a solenoidvalve. If BIB value 134 is a volumetric valve, then a non-volumetricpump (e.g. BIB pump 132) may be used between BIB connector 126 and BIBvacuum regulator 128. An example of a non-volumetric pump is a CO₂powered on-demand pump. Examples of a volumetric valve are described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,381,926, Beverage Dispenser Value and Method, filed May12, 1993, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.Examples of a vacuum side air vent are described in PCT PatentApplication Serial No. PCT/US15/028559, entitled Vacuum Side Air Vent,filed on Apr. 30, 2015, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated byreference. While FIG. 1 shows one BIB portion 106, dispensing system 102may include one or more BIB portions including a plurality of BIBingredients. BIB ingredients may comprise, but are not limited tobeverage bases, syrups, concentrates, and the like that may be mixedwith a diluent such as still or carbonated water or other diluent toform a beverage. The BIB ingredients may have reconstitution ratios ofabout 3:1 to about 6:1 or higher.

While embodiments shown in FIG. 1 show BIB ingredient 124 and BIBconnector 126 being outside dispensing system 102 either or both BIBingredient 124 and BIB connector 126 may be inside or outside dispensingsystem 102. For example, BIB ingredient 124 may be in a back room remotefrom dispensing system 102. If BIB ingredient 124 is near or withindispensing system 102, then suction from BIB pump 132 may draw BIBingredient 124 and BIB vacuum regulator 128 may not be needed. If BIBingredient 124 is not near or not within dispensing system 102, then BIBingredient 124 may need to be pumped to dispensing system 102 underpressure and BIB vacuum regulator 128 may be needed. FIG. 1 shows oneBIB portion 106 with one BIB ingredient 124; however, one or more BIBportion 106 may be used in dispensing system 102 with each BIB portion106 having one or more BIB ingredient 124.

Water portion 108 may provide a diluent for dispensing system 102. Thediluent may comprise, but is not limited to carbonated water or stillwater for example. Water portion 108 may comprise a carbonated watersection and a still water section. The carbonated water section maycomprise a carbonated water source 136, a carbonated water flowrestrictor 138, and a carbonated water shutoff valve 140. In addition,the still water section may comprise a still water source 142, a stillwater flow restrictor 144, and a still water shutoff valve 146. Thecarbonated water section and the still water section may join at aT-joint 148. While embodiments shown in FIG. 1 show still water source142 being outside dispensing system 102, still water source 142 may beinside or outside dispensing system 102.

The carbonated water section of water portion 108 may use a carbonatorthat receives CO₂ from a CO₂ source and dissolves the CO₂ in water tocreate carbonated water. The CO₂ source may comprise a CO₂ tank storedremotely (e.g., in a back room) with gas lines to carbonated watersource 136. The ratio of CO₂ to still water in the carbonated water usedin dispensing system 102 may be, for example, approximately 4:1 or 3:1.

Macro-ingredient portion 110 may comprise a macro-ingredient 150, amacro-ingredient connector 152, a macro-ingredient vacuum regulator 154,a macro-ingredient air vent 156, a macro-ingredient pump 158, and amacro-ingredient valve 160. Macro-ingredient pump 158 may comprise, butis not limited to, a controlled gear pump. Macro-ingredient valve 160may comprise, but is not limited to, a volumetric valve. As explainedabove, a controlled gear pump and a volumetric valve may not be usedtogether in the same system. If a controlled gear pump is used, thenmacro-ingredient valve 160 may comprise a solenoid value. Ifmacro-ingredient valve 160 is a volumetric valve, then a non-volumetricpump may be used between connector 152 and vacuum regulator 154.Examples of a volumetric valve are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,381,926,Beverage Dispenser Value and Method, filed May 12, 1993.Macro-ingredient 150 may comprise, but is not limited to, a sweetenercomprising, for example, high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) for example.Other sweeteners or sweetener blends may be used. Macro-ingredient 150may have reconstitution ratios of about 3:1 to about 6:1 or higher, butgenerally less than about 10:1.

While embodiments shown in FIG. 1 show macro-ingredient 150 andmacro-ingredient connector 152 being outside dispensing system 102,either or both macro-ingredient 150 and macro-ingredient connector 152may be inside or outside dispensing system 102. For example,macro-ingredient 150 may be in a back room remote from dispensing system102. If macro-ingredient 150 is near or within dispensing system 102,then suction from macro-ingredient pump 158 may draw macro-ingredient150 and macro-ingredient vacuum regulator 154 may not be needed. Ifmacro-ingredient 150 is not near or not within dispensing system 102,then macro-ingredient 150 may need to be pumped to dispensing system 102under pressure and macro-ingredient vacuum regulator 154 may be needed.FIG. 1 shows one macro-ingredient portion 110 with one macro-ingredient150; however, one or more macro-ingredient portion 110 may be used indispensing system 102 with each macro-ingredient portion 110 having oneor more macro-ingredient 150.

Macro-ingredients can come in a variety of containers and in variousamounts. As noted, the macro-ingredients can be delivered in BIBcontainers or, alternatively, in tanks, drums, buckets, etc. Themacro-ingredients can be delivered in quantities ranging from less thana gallon to large quantities exceeding 50 to 75 gallons. In anotherexample, one or more cleaning products (e.g., sanitizer) can beautomatically supplied from a container, such as a bucket, to thedispensing system 102 during a periodic cleaning cycle performed by thedispensing system 102.

The macro-ingredients can be stored at ambient temperature and deliveredat ambient or chilled to the dispenser. In other examples, themacro-ingredients can be stored and delivered at pre-chilledtemperatures. Many configurations are possible.

Micro-ingredient portion 112 may comprise a micro-ingredient tower 162.Micro-ingredient tower 162 may comprise a micro-ingredient 164, amicro-ingredient probe 168, and a micro-ingredient pump 170.Micro-ingredient pump 170 may comprise, but is not limited to, a pistonpump.

FIG. 1 shows micro-ingredient tower 162 having one micro-ingredient 164;however, micro-ingredient tower 162 may include one or moremicro-ingredients 164. Micro-ingredient 164 may be packaged in amicro-ingredient package. Any number of micro-ingredient packages may beincluded in dispensing system 102 depending, for example, on thecapacity of dispensing system 102. Examples of micro-ingredient packagesare described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/209,684, BeverageDispenser Container and Carton, filed Mar. 13, 2014, the entirety ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference.

Nozzle portion 114 may comprise a dispensing nozzle assembly. Dispensingnozzle assembly 172 may comprise an injector ring 176 and a commondiffuser 178. Examples of dispensing nozzle assembly 172 may bedescribed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/265,632, the entiretyof which is hereby incorporated by reference. Dispensing nozzle assembly172 may combine the flows from the plurality of pumps and/or valves indispensing system 102 (e.g., external ingredient pump 120, externalingredient valve 122, BIB pump 132, BIB valve 134, carbonated watershutoff valve 140, still water shutoff valve 146, macro-ingredient pump158, macro-ingredient valve 160, and micro-ingredient pump 170) to mixand dispense a product (e.g. a beverage) into a container (e.g. a cup).The product mixing may occur prior to, during, and/or following dispenseof the flows from dispensing nozzle assembly 172. Dispensing to, during,and or/following dispense of the flows may be generally and collectivelyreferred to as dispensing about dispensing nozzle assembly 172 and maybe within or proximate to the container suitable to hold the product.

At injector ring 176, diluent (e.g. water) from water portion 108 maycome together with one or more ingredients from external portion 104,BIB portion 106, macro-ingredient portion 110, and micro-ingredientportion 112 into a flow from the bottom of common diffuser 178. The flowcoming from common diffuser 178 may contain: i) only diluent from waterportion 108; ii) one or more ingredients released from external portion104, BIB portion 106, macro-ingredient portion 110, and micro-ingredientportion 112; or iii) diluent from water portion 108 in addition to oneor more ingredients released from external portion 104, BIB portion 106,macro-ingredient portion 110, and micro-ingredient portion 112.

FIG. 2 shows a control architecture 200 that may be used to controldispensing system 102. Control architecture 200 may be internal todispensing system 102 and may control external portion 104 and theinternal portion. As shown in FIG. 2, control architecture 200 maycomprise a core dispense module (CDM) 204, a human machine interface(HMI) module 206, and a user interface (UI) 208. HMI module 206 mayconnect to or otherwise interface and communicate with at least oneexternal device 202 being external to dispensing system 102. CDM 204 maycontrol flows from the plurality of pumps and/or valves in operatingenvironment 100 (e.g., external ingredient pump 120, external ingredientvalve 122, BIB pump 132, BIB valve 134, carbonated water shutoff valve140, still water shutoff valve 146, macro-ingredient pump 158,macro-ingredient valve 160, and micro-ingredient pump 170) according toa recipe to mix and dispense the product (e.g. a beverage) fromdispensing system 102.

The aforementioned beverage components (i.e. beverage bases or beveragebase components and flavors) may be combined, along with otheringredients, to dispense various products that may include beverages orblended beverages (i.e. finished beverage products) from the dispensingsystem 102. However, dispensing system 102 may also be configured todispense beverage components individually. In some embodiments,dispensing system 102 may be configured to dispense beverage basecomponents to form a beverage base or finished beverage. The otherbeverage ingredients may include diluents such as still or carbonatedwater, functional additives, or medicaments, for example.

An example of control architecture 200 for dispensing system 102 may bedescribed in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/987,020, titledDispenser Control Architecture, filed on May 1, 2014, the entirety ofwhich is hereby incorporated by reference. A machine bus (MBUS) mayfacilitate communication between the HMI module 206 and the CDM 204. HMImodule 206, the MBUS, and CDM 204 may collectively comprise common corecomponents, implemented as hardware or as combination of hardware andsoftware, which may be adapted to provide customized functionality indispensing system 102. Dispensing system 102 may further include memorystorage and a processor. Examples of UI 208 may be described in U.S.Patent Application Ser. No. 61/877,549, titled Product CategorizationUser Interface for a Dispensing Device, filed on Sep. 13, 2013, theentirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. HMI module 206and the CDM 204 may be customized through the use of adapters (e.g.configuration files comprising application programming interfaces(APIs)) to provide customized user interface views and equipmentbehavior for the dispensing system 102.

In some embodiments, UI 208 in dispensing system 102 may be utilized toselect and individually dispense one or more beverages. The beveragesmay be dispensed as beverage components in a continuous pour operationwhereby one or more selected beverage components continue to bedispensed while a pour input is actuated by a user or in a batch pouroperation whereby a predetermined volume of one or more selectedbeverage components are dispensed (e.g. one ounce at a time). UI 208 maybe addressed via a number of methods to select and dispense beverages.For example, a user may interact with UI 208 via touch input to navigateone or more menus from which to select and dispense a beverage. Asanother example, a user may type in a code using an onscreen or physicalkeyboard (not shown) on dispensing system 102 to navigate one or moremenus from which to select and dispense a beverage.

UI 208, which may include a touch screen and a touch screen controller,may be configured to receive various commands from a user (i.e. consumerinput) in the form of touch input, generate a graphics output and/orexecute one or more operations with dispensing system 102 (e.g. via HMImodule 206 and/or CDM 204), in response to receiving the aforementionedcommands. A touch screen driver in HMI module 206 may be configured toreceive the consumer or customer inputs and generate events (e.g. touchscreen events) that may then be communicated through a controller to anoperating system of HMI module 206.

Dispensing system 102 may be in communication with one or more externaldevice 202. In some embodiments, the communication between dispensingsystem 102 and external device 202 may be accomplished utilizing anynumber of communication techniques including, but not limited to,near-field wireless technology such as BLUETOOTH, Wi-Fi and otherwireless or wireline communication standards or technologies, via acommunication interface.

External device 202 may include, for example, a mobile device, asmartphone, a tablet personal computer, a laptop computer, biometricsensors, and the like. In some embodiments, external device 202 may beutilized to receive user interface views from HMI module 206 that may bein lieu of or in addition to user interface views displayed in userinterface 208 of dispensing system 102. For example, in someembodiments, dispensing system 102 may be configured for “headless”operation in which graphics and other user interface elements aredisplayed on a customer's smartphone instead of on dispensing system102. Examples of facilitating interaction between a mobile computingdevice and an electronic device are described in U.S. Patent ApplicationSer. No. 61/860,634, titled Facilitating Individualized Used InteractionWith An Electronic Device, filed Jul. 31, 2013, the entirety of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

FIG. 3 is a block showing control architecture 200 in more detail. Asshown in FIG. 3, dispensing system 102 may be configured to performdispenser interaction events (which are handled either independently byHMI 206 or in conjunction with the CDM 204) and dispenser operationevents (that may be handled either independently by the CDM 204 or inconjunction with the HMI 206). Dispensing system 102 may include a touchscreen 305, a communication interface, HMI 206, CDM 204, acommunications bus 362, a macro-ingredient controller board 365, amicro-ingredient controller board 370, an RFID controller board 375,other controller boards 380, and a node 385.

Touch screen 305, which may comprise a touch controller 307, may beconfigured to receive various commands from a user (i.e., consumerinput) in the form of touch input, generate a graphics output (e.g.,touch screen coordinates) and/or execute one or more operations with thedispense module (via HMI 206 and/or CDM 204), in response to receivingthe aforementioned commands.

HMI 206 may include a touch screen driver 315, a consumer engagementmodule 320, stored graphics 322, stored visual component layouts 324,stored user event handlers 326, an operating system 328, a controller330 and an input/output interface 335. Touch screen driver 315 may beconfigured to receive the consumer or customer inputs and generateevents (e.g., touch screen events) that may then be communicated throughcontroller 330 to operating system 328. For example, the touch screenevents may indicate coordinates on touch screen 305 where a receivedtouch input is detected. Operating system 328 may also be incommunication with a number of threads that may include a user interfacethread 337, a CDM communications thread 338, and a Network ManagementSystem (NMS) agent thread 339. In an embodiment, operating system 328may call threads 337-339 to execute various processes, which may includegraphics rendering and communication operations, in HMI 206. Forexample, operating system 328 may call user interface thread 337 torender graphics on touch screen 305 in response to a generated event336, such as a touch event. In particular, user interface thread 337 maybe configured to execute a function in response to events with thestored user event handlers 326 through operating system 328. Forexample, user interface thread 337 may execute a screen navigationfunction associated with the coordinates of a touch screen event. Thescreen navigation function may then cooperate with user event handlers326 to select stored graphics 322 and visual component layouts 324corresponding to the screen navigation function to render new graphicson touch screen 305.

As another example, operating system 328 may call CDM communicationsthread 338 to initiate the communication of events to CDM 204. Thecommunications from the HMI 206 to CDM 204 may be enabled by a CDM eventhandler in input/output interface 335. As yet another example, operatingsystem 328 may call the NMS agent thread 339 to initiate backendcommunications between HMI 206 and one or more backend (i.e., external)databases. In an embodiment, NMS agent thread 339 may be configured toroute instructions through operating system 328, controller 330, andconsumer engagement module 320 to communication interface 32 (e.g., amodem). Communication interface 22 may then forward the instructions tothe databases over a network. For example, NMS agent thread 339 may beutilized to send instructions for requesting updated graphics forcustomizing a user interface displayed on touch screen 305.

Controller 330 in HMI 206 may also be in communication with a consumerengagement module 320. In various embodiments, consumer engagementmodule 320 may be configured to receive inputs (e.g., consumer commands)from external devices 202 that may be in lieu of or in addition toconsumer input received from touch screen 305. Where the touch screenevents relate to operations with the dispense module, controller 330 mayalso be in communication with input/output interface 335 which functionsas an event handler for the CDM 204. In particular, input/outputinterface 335 may enable the communication of events (e.g., beveragepouring events) from HMI 206 to CDM 204 via corresponding input/outputinterface 350.

CDM 204 may include a controller input/output board 340, a controller345, an operating system 348, input/output interface 350, a stored datamodel 352, a stored messaging model 354, stored monitoring data 356,stored recipe data 358, stored adapters 360, and an input/outputinterface 361. Controller input/output board 340 may be in communicationwith controller 345, operating system 348 and communications bus 362. Insome embodiments, controller input/output board 340 may comprise anumber of interfaces and ports for communicating various dispensercommands. The interfaces and ports may include, but are not limited to,controller area network (CAN) interfaces, serial ports (e.g., RS-232),and USB ports. The configuration of controller input/output board 340may be based on the type of dispenser being utilized (e.g., CANinterfaces for dispensers that communicate using CAN messages, RS-232ports for dispensers utilizing serial communications and USB ports fordispensers utilizing USB communications). For example, in some dispenserconfigurations, controller input/output board 340 may be operative tocommunicate to the RFID controller board 375 exclusively over a USBconnection. In some embodiments, controller input/output board 340 mayinclude combinations of CAN interfaces, serial ports and/or USB ports.Controller input/output board 340 may further include one or morethreads (i.e., CDM threads) for communicating various dispensercommands, instructions and messages between the controller boards365-380, node 385 and controller 345 via the operating system 348. Inembodiments, the controller input/output board 340 may perform clientfunctions in the CDM 204.

Controller 345 may be in communication with operating system 348,input/output interface 350, stored data model 352, stored messagingmodel 354, stored monitoring data 356, stored recipe data 358, storedadapters 360, and input/output interface 361. In embodiments, controller345 may perform server functions in CDM 204. Controller 345 may beconfigured to receive CDM event communications from the input outputinterface 335 in HMI 206 via input/output interface 350. Controller 345may further communicate with controller input/output board 340 orinput/output interface 361 (via the operating system 348) to send andreceive control or command messages for performing various dispenseroperations. In some dispenser configurations, the control or commandmessages may be executed by the controller boards 365-380 and/or node385 that may be in communication with controller input/output board 340and communications bus 362. In other dispenser configurations, thecontrol or command messages may be executed via controller boards havinga direct connection to input/output interface 361. For example, in anembodiment, RFID controller board 375 may optionally be connected (viaUSB) directly to input/output interface 361. In some embodiments, thecontrol or command messages may include, without limitation, monitoringa current dispenser status and dispenser events (which may be stored inmonitoring data 356), generating dispenser status messages or events,retrieving a beverage product recipe (e.g., from stored recipe data 358)based on a received beverage identification, selecting a number ofdispenser pumps based on ingredients in a previously retrieved beverageproduct recipe, starting and stopping dispenser pumps based on ratios ofthe ingredients in the retrieved beverage product recipe, and initiatingagitation of various ingredients (e.g., ice, carbonation, etc.)associated with dispensing a beverage product.

Communications bus 362 may connect CDM 204 to macro-ingredientcontroller board 365, micro-ingredient controller board 370, RFIDcontroller board 375, other controller boards 380, and node 385. In somedispenser configurations, macro and micro-ingredient controller boards365 and 370 may not be utilized and may be replaced by an input/outputmodule. Ingredient controller boards 365, 370 or input/output interface361 may be utilized for pumping ingredients or otherwise controllingdispenser equipment to facilitate the dispensing of beverage productsfrom dispensing system 102. Ingredient controller boards 365, 370 orinput/output interface 361 may also be utilized to carry out periodicagitation of ingredients utilized in the dispensing of a beverage fromdispensing system 102. In an embodiment, other controller boards 380 maycomprise a controller board containing a door open sensor (not shown)which detects when a dispenser door has been opened and may further beconfigured to communicate a current dispenser door status to CDMcontroller input/output board 340. In some embodiments, RFID controllerboard 375 may be utilized for identifying beverage ingredient cartridgesinstalled in dispensing system 102. Controller boards 365-380 may alsofacilitate the starting and stopping of dispenser agitation and/orpumping operations based on monitored events (e.g., the opening of adispenser door, ingredient cartridge removal/insertion, ingredient soldout status, etc.). Node 385 may facilitate modular expansion ofadditional ingredient sources and associate pumps and controllers orother such additional dispenser hardware desired.

As noted, in this example, the RFID controller board 375 controls one ormore RFID readers to monitor ingredient cartridge removal/insertion,etc. In other examples, other communication schemes can be used, such asone or more optical scanners that are positioned to read (e.g., usingoptical character recognition) information on the cartridges that areadded and removed.

In some example, the system is programmed to provide one or more displayscreens associated with the UI 208. These display screens assist theuser in identifying the ingredients inserted into and removed from thesystem. For example, RFID and/or optical schemes can be used toautomatically identify ingredients that are interested into and removedfrom the dispensing system 102.

Further, the display screens can provide indications on the statuses ofingredients (e.g., location and amount) at one or more of the externalportion 104, the internal portion dispenser, and/or the ingredientslocated in the back room. For example, the UI 208 can provide one ormore “fuel gauges” that provide a visual indication to the user as tothe amount of product remaining in a cartridge (e.g., “sold out”indication) which may be dispensed. Such a configuration is described inPCT Publication No. WO2015/130791, Prevention of Cartridge Reuse ThroughEncryption, filed Feb. 25, 2015, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference. The sold out status for each ingredient canbe determined using various metrics, such as ingredient weight (with ascale), amount of product dispensed, flow characteristics of theproduct, etc. Information associated with the ingredients used by thedispensing system 102 can be sent to a central server for the purposesof tracking use, inventory ordering and analysis, etc.

HMI 206 and CDM 204 in dispensing system 102 may comprise a controlarchitecture that may be utilized for performing dispenser interactionevents. In some embodiments, the dispenser interaction events may beinitiated from a consumer, customer, technician or administrator via auser interface on dispensing system 102. In some embodiments, thedispenser interaction events may be initiated via external devices 202(e.g., from mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets, laptopcomputers, etc.). In some embodiments, the dispenser interaction eventsmay be initiated via remote external devices such as backend databaseservers (e.g., the databases) or other backend computing devices. Thedispenser interaction events may include events which are handledindependently by HMI 206 or in conjunction with CDM 204. In anembodiment, HMI 206 may independently handle screen navigation. Forexample, HMI 206 may receive a request to navigate between displayscreens on dispensing system 102 via a screen navigation touch event.User interface thread 337 may then process an event 336 (i.e., thescreen navigation touch event) to reference and load the appropriatescreen from stored graphics 322 and visual component layouts 324.

In another embodiment, HMI 206 may handle dispenser control events(e.g., the pouring of a beverage, etc.) in conjunction with CDM 204. Forexample, a request to dispense a selected beverage product on touchscreen 305 (or alternatively external devices 202) may be realized byHMI 206 sending instructions to CDM 204. CDM 204 may then translate theinstructions (via an adapter 360) to appropriate control messages forcommunication by controller input/output board 340 (via communicationsbus 362) to the appropriate hardware (i.e., ingredient controller boards365 and/or 370) which may be utilized for dispensing the selectedbeverage product. As another example, a consumer wishing to select abeverage product for dispense may interact with touch screen 305 torequest a menu of available beverages for selection. In response to theconsumer interaction, the consumer input may be communicated to HMI 206as an event 336 to touch screen driver 315 and subsequently communicatedto operating system 328 (via controller 330) for processing by userinterface thread 337. CDM communications thread application 338 may thenbe configured to send event 336 (i.e., instructions) to CDM 204 which,utilizing adapter 360, may translate the instructions to predeterminedcommands (i.e., dispenser-specific control messages compatible with thetype of dispenser and associated underlying equipment hardware beingutilized) for performing requested operations received in event 336. Asanother example, a request to display a menu that includes data orsettings related to specific hardware in dispensing system 102 via touchscreen 305 (or external device 202), may be realized by the HMI 206sending instructions to CDM 204 that may translate the instructions andcommunicate control messages and/or data back to HMI 206 to retrievestored graphics 322 and visual component layouts 324 (which are specificto a particular dispenser display) for output on touch screen 305. Asstill another example, a request to control a dispenser lightingfunction (e.g., background lighting) on touch screen 305 may be realizedby HMI 206 sending instructions to CDM 204 that may translate theinstructions (via adapter 360) and communicate one or more commandmessages for controlling dispenser lighting.

HMI 206 and CDM 204 in dispensing system 102 may comprise a controlarchitecture that may also be utilized for performing dispenseroperation events. In some embodiments, the dispenser operation eventsmay include dispenser controller board sensor events (e.g., pumpoperation status, dispenser door open, etc.), dispenser monitored data(e.g., empty ingredients) and dispenser background processes (e.g.,dispenser agitation). The dispenser operation events may include eventswhich are handled independently by CDM 204 (e.g., dispenser backgroundprocesses) or in conjunction with HMI 206. Dispenser operation eventswhich may be handled by CDM 204 in conjunction with HMI 206 may includethe updating of a dispenser display screen/graphics in response to achange in a dispenser operation status (e.g., the dispenser is out ofone or more ingredients, the dispenser door is open, the dispenser isdispensing a beverage for a consumer, etc.).

FIG. 4 shows node 385 of dispensing system 102's control architecture200 in more detail. Node 385 may comprise a modular device that may beadded (e.g., retro-fitted) to dispensing system 102 utilizingabove-described dispenser control architecture 200. For example, node385 may comprise external portion 104.

In an embodiment, node 385 may be utilized for dispensing high-yield(e.g., 8:1 to 15:1 reconstitution ratio) macro-ingredients oralternative sweetener macro-ingredients such as sweetener blends ornon-nutritive sweeteners (NNS). Node 385 may include a nozzle 405 (e.g.dispensing nozzle assembly 172), tubing 410, a pumping module enclosure415, a removable electrical connector 420 (for connecting node 385 todispensing system 102 via the communications bus 362), an electricalconnection 430 and a high-yield macro-ingredient source 450 or othersuch additional desired beverage ingredient. In some embodiments, nozzle405 may already be present on dispensing system 102 and may not beincluded as part of node 385.

Nozzle 405 may be in fluidic communication with tubing 410 and utilizedfor dispensing the high-yield macro-ingredient source 450 which, in someembodiments, may comprise one or more ingredients having areconstitution ratio of about 6:1 to about 10:1. In some embodiments,high-yield macro-ingredient source 450 may have a reconstitution ratioof about 8:1 to about 15:1. Tubing 410 may also be in fluidiccommunication with a pumping module enclosure 415. Pumping moduleenclosure 415 may be in fluidic communication with high-yieldmacro-ingredient source 450 and electrically connected to removableconnector 420 via electrical connection 430. In some embodiments, tubing410 and electrical connection 430 may be bundled into a singleelectrical/fluidic harness connecting nozzle 405, pumping moduleenclosure 415, removable connector 420 and high-yield macro-ingredientsource 450.

Pumping module enclosure 415 may include a solenoid valve 435, a CANnode 440, and a pumping/metering device 445. In an embodiment, pumpingmodule enclosure 415 may be located near dispensing system 102 (e.g.,under a counter). In some embodiments, high-yield macro-ingredientsource 450 may comprise multiple macro-ingredient sources connected to acorresponding number of pumping/metering devices 445 and a correspondingnumber of CAN nodes 440 in pumping module enclosure 415.

Pumping/metering device 445 (which may comprise a controlled gear pump)may be connected to high-yield macro-ingredient source 450 and furtherbe in fluid communication with solenoid valve 435. Solenoid valve 435may be utilized to prevent fluid from drooling at the nozzle 405.Pumping/metering device 445 may be controlled by CAN node 440 which maybe removably connected to dispensing system 102 (via the removableconnector 420 and the bus 362). Thus, node 385 may be added todispensing system 102 by utilizing removable connector 420 to CAN node440. In an embodiment, CAN node 440 may be connected to controllerinput/output board 340 in dispensing system 102 (via the communicationsbus 362). Pumping/metering device 445, in communication with CAN node440, may turn the flow of macro-ingredients (from high-yieldmacro-ingredient source 450) on an off in coordination with the flow ofother ingredients and diluents at nozzle 405 based on the recipecorresponding to the selected beverage. The macro-ingredients may thenbe air-mixed into the main stream from the nozzle. In an embodiment, thehigh-yield macro-ingredient source may comprise one or morebags-in-boxes (BIBs).

Controller input/output board 340 may be configured to recognize thenode 385 via a software update to adapters 360 stored in CDM 204 ofdispensing system 102. The addition of node 385 may also compriseadditional updates being made to backend databases in communication withdispensing system 102 to utilize new beverage recipes and associateddispenser display screen graphics associated with the macro-ingredientspumped from high-yield macro-ingredient source 450. For example,images/icons and recipe data in the databases may be updated to reflectnew beverage recipes and associated graphics which may be selected ondispensing system 102 via touch screen 305. The recipe and graphics datamay be accessed by HMI 206 (e.g., utilizing NMS agent thread 339). HMI206 may then utilize user interface thread 337 to communicate the newgraphics to touch screen 305 and/or the external devices 202. HMI 206may further utilize CDM communications thread 238 to communicate theupdated recipe data to CDM 204 to facilitate the dispensing of beverageswith one or more new ingredients.

FIG. 5A shows an example of CAN connector layout for a printed circuitassembly (PCA) for the tray 116. As shown in FIG. 6B, the CAN connectorsmay be located on the back of a primary tray 600, described in moredetail below. The CAN connectors may include a primary connector FS7000for connecting the tray 600 to the CDM 204 of dispensing system 102 viacommunications bus 362. The CAN connector layout also shows further CANconnectors CGP1-CGP4 for connecting to additional modular externalingredients 118 as described in more detail in FIGS. 8A and 8B below.FIGS. 5B-5D shown exemplary pin assignments for each of the CANconnectors.

FIG. 5E shows the PCA layout for a modular add-on component, such as thetray 116. As described above, the PCA layout may include a primaryconnector 502 for communicating control signals with the communicationsbus 362. The control signals communicated through primary connector 502may be distributed via the PCA to a plurality of external ingredientpumps 120 or other such add-on modules. For example, the PCA may includea primary pump connector 504 for providing a control communication pathfrom communications bus 362 to a controller of a primary externalingredient pump module 615. Primary pump connector 504 may also providepower from a power supply 510 to external ingredient pump module 615, asdescribed in more detail below. In this example, primary externalingredient pump module 615 may one or more pumps for pumping amicro-ingredient from a single source to a corresponding plurality ofmicro-ingredient inlets on nozzle assembly 172 (e.g., micro-ingredientinlets on the injector ring 176). In some embodiments, the singlemicro-ingredient source may be a micro-ingredient sweetener source suchas a non-nutritive sweetener (e.g., aspartame). Examples of a pump aredescribed in U.S. Pat. No. 8,516,902, Product Dispensing System, filedDec. 29, 2011, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated byreference. By locating the non-nutritive sweetener external todispensing system 102, additional micro-ingredient cartridge/cartonslots in micro-ingredient tower 162 within the dispenser may be madeavailable for providing additional micro-ingredient options. Forexample, a further non-nutritive sweetener source may be provided in oneof the freed-up slots in micro-ingredient tower 162. Such an additionalnon-nutritive sweetener source may include a steviol glycoside basedsweetener such as a Reb A or Reb M sweetener or sweetener blend.

The PCA may also include a power supply connector 508 for connecting topower supply 510 that supplies power to the PCA and the associatedadd-on modules. Moreover, power supply connector 508 may receive a powersupply input from primary connector 502. When power is being receivedfrom primary connector 502 a standby enable pin on power supplyconnector 508 may be driven such that power supply 510 provides power tothe PCA and associated add-on modules. In contrast, when power is notbeing received from the primary connector a standby enable pin on powersupply connector 508 may be driven such that power supply 510 enters astandby mode and reduces the power draw of the PCA and associated add-onmodules. Therefore, when dispensing system 102 enters a standby mode,the power on primary connector 502 will be low such that the standbyenable pin is driven to also put power supply 510 for the PCA andassociated add-on modules in a standby mode also.

The PCA may also include a power supply connector 512 for receivingpower supplied by power supply 510. A power indicator 518 may be drivenbased on signals received through indicator connector 520 to showdifferent colors based on the operational state of the power supply. Forexample, power indicator 518 may be green when power is being supplied,yellow when power supply 510 is in the standby mode, and red when nopower is being supplied.

The PCA may further include one or more expansion connectors 522.Expansion connectors 522 may correspond to the CGP1-CGP4 connectorsshown in FIGS. 5A and 5D. While only one expansion connector 522 isshown, two or more expansion connectors 522 may be present. In theembodiment of FIG. 5A, there are four expansion connectors 522. Each ofexpansion connectors 522 may provide power from power supply 510 as wellas provide a control communication path from communications bus 362 to acontroller of the expansion module, a controlled gear pump modulecontroller in this example.

FIGS. 6A through 6F show a primary tray 600. Primary tray 600 maycomprise tray 116 and may also include external ingredient pump 120 andoptionally external ingredient valve 122. Primary tray 600 may beembodied by node 385 described above and may include the PCA describedabove in conjunction with FIGS. 5A-5E. External ingredient 118 may be ina BIB and may be placed on top of primary tray 600. External ingredient118 may comprise, for example, macro-ingredients or micro-ingredients.External ingredient 118, for example, may comprise a non-nutritivesweetener (NNS) (e.g. Aspartame.) Primary tray 600 may comprise aconnector 605 (e.g. a BIB connector) for connecting external ingredient118 to primary tray 600. Connector 605 may lead to a manifold 610 thatmay feed, for example, pump module 615 (e.g. external ingredient pump120 and external ingredient valve 122.) Pump module 615 may includecontroller 506 described above in conjunction with FIG. 5E. Pump module615 may connect to control architecture 200 of dispensing system 102through communications bus 362 as described above with respect to FIGS.3, 4, and 5A-5E. Each of the pumps on pump module 615 may comprise amicro-ingredient pump (e.g., vibratory piston pump, though otherpositive displacement pumps could be used). Pump module 615 may includecontroller 506 for pumping one or more of the pumps depending on theflow rate instructed. Pump module 615 may also include logic forinterleaving the pumps to distribute the wear across the pumps. Each ofthe one or more pumps (e.g., four pumps in this example) may be plumbedto its own micro-ingredient inlet on a common nozzle (e.g. injector ring176.) This configuration may be useful for NNS (e.g., aspartame)because, while many intendents have reconstitution ratios of 150:1, NNSmay have a reconstitution ratio of 50:1 and may need to be pumped at ahigher flow rate than the other ingredients.

In addition or as an alternative to pump module 615, primary tray 600may include a controlled gear pump (CGP) module as describe in moredetail below in conjunction with FIGS. 8A and 8B. The CGP module mayconnect to control architecture 200 of dispensing system 102 throughcommunications bus 362 as described above with respect to FIGS. 3, 4,and 5A-5E. The CGP module may have a CGP for pumping macro-ingredientsfrom primary tray 600 or a secondary tray 700. The CGP may be plumed toone of the macro-ingredient ports on the common nozzle (e.g. injectorring 176.)

FIG. 7 shows primary tray 600 with a secondary tray 700 stacked uponprimary tray 600. As shown in FIG. 7, a primary BIB 710 (e.g. externalingredient 118 container) may be placed on and connect to primary tray600. Consistent with embodiments of the disclosure, secondary tray 700may be similar to primary tray 600 as described above and may supportand connect with a secondary BIB (not shown.) Consistent withembodiments of the disclosure, secondary tray 700 may be stacked on topprimary tray 600 and may include limited internal components (e.g. a BIBconnector that is in fluid communication with a fluid connector forconnecting a tube between secondary tray 700 and a controlled gear pump(CGP) module.) The CGP module may have an electrical connection fromprimary tray 600 for providing control signals to secondary tray 700'sCGP module from control architecture 200.

Alternatively, other BIBs may be stacked on top of each other on primaryBIB 710 on primary tray 600 or next to primary tray 600. A BIB connectormay connect a CGP directly to one of the other BIBs and then the CGP maybe plumed to the nozzle (e.g. a macro-ingredient port on injector ring176.) The CGP module can be clipped to the side of primary tray 600.

FIG. 8A shows a control gear pump (CGP) module clipped to the side ofprimary tray 600. As shown in FIGS. 6A-6D and 8A, primary tray 600 mayinclude a plurality of bosses along the perimeter of primary tray 600.The CGP module may include a housing 802 that includes a correspondingboss that cooperatively engages with one of the bosses on the perimeterof the primary tray 600. Accordingly, primary tray 600 can cooperativelyreceive and support the housing of the CGP module. In some embodimentsone or more of secondary tray 700 may also have a boss for mountinghousing 802 of the CGP module. In some embodiments, the CGP module maybe mounted to primary tray 600 and may pump ingredients from a BIB onthe secondary tray 700. Moreover, while not shown in FIG. 8A, the CGPmodule may include a CAN connector port. A CAN connector line mayconnect the CGP module with a corresponding CAN connector port on theback of primary tray 600. As described above in conjunction with FIG.5E, the CGP module may receive power and control signals that controlthe operation of the CGP module via the CAN connection.

FIG. 8B shows a system diagram of the GCP module. The CGP module maycomprise an air vent 804 and controlled gear pump 806 along with variousvalves (not shown). An embodiment of the operation and structure of airvent 804, controlled gear pump 806, and associated valves are describedin PCT Patent Application Serial No. PCT/US15/028559, entitled VacuumSide Air Vent, filed on Apr. 30, 2015, the entirety of which is herebyincorporated by reference. In general, the controlled gear pump 806operates to pump a predetermined volume of a fluid every time the pumpis cycled. Air vent 804 operates to separate and vent any air that maybe entrained within any fluids from external ingredient source 118. CGPcontroller 808 provides control signals to air vent 804 and associatedvalves as well as controlled gear pump 806 based on instructionsreceived via communications bus 362 from CDM 204 in the dispensingsystem. The CGP module includes an inlet 810 for receiving fluid fromexternal ingredient source 118 and supplying the fluid to controlledgear pump 806 and air vent 804. The CGP module also includes an outlet812 for supplying fluid pumped by controlled gear pump 806 to nozzle 816(e.g., a macro-ingredient inlet port on injector ring 176 of nozzleassembly 172).

In some embodiments, the fluid from the CGP module may pass through aheat exchanger 814 to moderate the temperature of the fluid as desiredbefore being dispensed from the nozzle 816. For example, the fluid fromoutlet 812 of one or more of the CGP modules may flow through one ormore corresponding fluid circuits in a cold plate, cold water bath, orother such heat exchanger in dispensing system 102. In some embodiments,one or more CGP modules may be in fluid communication with heatexchanger 814 and one or more other CGP modules may be pumped at ambienttemperature to the nozzle. For example, a first CGP module may pump analternative nutritive sweetener to nozzle assembly 172 (in addition tomacro-ingredient 110 which may be high fructose corn syrup or other suchnutritive sweetener). In this example the alternative nutritivesweetener may be a fructose, glucose, or inverted sugar. Accordingly, itmay be desirable to cool the alternative nutritive sweetener to adesired temperature for dispensing cold carbonated or still beverages.At the same time a second CGP module may pump a juice concentrate suchas an apple juice concentrate. Upon mixing with cold water at the nozzlea finished apple juice beverage may have a desirable temperature even ifthe apple juice concentrate provided to the nozzle is at ambienttemperature. Accordingly, the apple juice concentrate may be plumbeddirectly to the nozzle form the CGP module without first passing throughheat exchanger 814. Additional CGP modules may further be added foradditional ingredient sources as desired and provided to the nozzle ineither temperature controlled or ambient fluid circuits. Whileembodiments are described herein using the CAN specification for thecontrol communication protocol, other communication standards andcomponents may be used.

While the specification includes examples, the disclosure's scope isindicated by the following claims. Furthermore, while the specificationhas been described in language specification to structural featuresand/or methodological acts, the claims are not limited to the featuresor acts described above. Rather, the specific features and actsdescribed above are disclosed as example for embodiments of thedisclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a dispensing systemcomprising a control architecture internal to the dispensing system; aninternal portion internal to the dispensing system, the internal portionconfigured to provide an internal ingredient under the control of thecontrol architecture; and an external portion external to the dispensingsystem, the external portion configured to provide an externalingredient to the dispensing system, the external portion being underthe control of the control architecture.
 2. The system of claim 1,wherein the external portion comprises: a primary tray; and an externalingredient container disposed on the primary tray.
 3. The system ofclaim 2, wherein the external ingredient container comprises abag-in-box (BIB).
 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the external portioncomprises: a secondary tray stacked upon the primary tray; and anadditional external ingredient container disposed on the secondary tray.5. The system of claim 4, wherein the secondary tray connects to thecontrol architecture through the primary tray.
 6. The system of claim 4,wherein the additional external ingredient container comprises anadditional bag-in-box (BIB).
 7. The system of claim 4, wherein thesecondary tray comprises: an additional external ingredient pump; and anadditional external ingredient valve.
 8. The system of claim 2, whereinthe primary tray comprises: an external ingredient pump; and an externalingredient valve.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the externalingredient pump comprises a quad pump.
 10. The system of claim 9,wherein the primary tray comprises: a connector connected to theexternal ingredient container; and a manifold configured to feed theexternal ingredient from the connector to the quad pump.
 11. The systemof claim 8, wherein the external ingredient pump comprises a controlledgear pump.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the external ingredientcomprises a macro-ingredient.
 13. The system of claim 1, wherein theexternal ingredient comprises a micro-ingredient.
 14. The system ofclaim 1, wherein the external ingredient comprises a non-nutritivesweetener (NNS).
 15. A method comprising: providing an internalingredient from an internal portion under the control of a controlarchitecture internal to a dispensing system; and providing an externalingredient to the dispensing system from an external portion external tothe dispensing system, the external portion being under the control ofthe control architecture.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein providingthe external ingredient comprises providing the external ingredient froman external ingredient container disposed on a primary tray.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising providing an additional externalingredient to the dispensing system from the external portion, theadditional external ingredient being provided from an additionalexternal ingredient container disposed on a secondary tray stacked uponthe primary tray.
 18. A system comprising: a dispensing systemcomprising a control architecture internal to the dispensing system; aninternal portion internal to the dispensing system, the internal portionconfigured to provide an internal ingredient under the control of thecontrol architecture; and an external portion external to the dispensingsystem, the external portion configured to provide an externalingredient to the dispensing system, the external portion being underthe control of the control architecture, wherein the external portioncomprises: a primary tray, an external ingredient container containingthe external ingredient, the external ingredient container beingdisposed on the primary tray, a secondary tray stacked upon the primarytray, and an additional external ingredient container disposed on thesecondary tray wherein the secondary tray connects to the controlarchitecture through the primary tray.
 19. The system of claim 18,wherein the primary tray comprises: an external ingredient pump whereinthe external ingredient pump comprises a quad pump; and an externalingredient valve.
 20. The system of claim 19, wherein the primary traycomprises: a connector connected to the external ingredient container;and a manifold configured to feed the external ingredient from theconnector to the quad pump.